Wednesday, October 29, 2008 | WELLNESS NEWS
• Keeping Up With Mental and Physical Health After Menopause with Dr. Marilyn Mitchell, MD
• Tip of the Week: Sweet & Safe Alternatives to Harmful Artificial Sweeteners with Dr. Robert Scott, DC
Keeping Up With Mental and Physical Health After Menopause With Dr. Marilyn Mitchell, MD
According to Pharmasave.com, most women spend 33-50 percent of their life in post-menopause. As a result, it is important for women to learn to deal with menopausal transformations. Menopause changes are profound and unexpected. Some women feel unlike themselves, experiencing sleep disruption, hot flashes, shifted emotions and alterations in personality. ChicagoHealers.com Practitioner Marilyn Mitchell, MD, explains that menopause is a time of new beginnings and by learning about it and how to deal with it, women can be more mentally and physically prepared.
“The daily patterns of living, thinking and coping may not work once you go through menopause, which is why it’s important to approach the changes gently,” says Mitchell. “Develop a plan for moving through this transition with grace and be flexible with yourself.”
Physiologically during menopause, the ovaries begin to decrease their functions of producing hormones and ovulating, which is not usually a smooth transition. Women experience major shifts in their distinctive characteristics, energy templates and the spiritual energy that supports the body.
Mitchell offers physical, spiritual and emotional guidelines as part of a plan to work through menopause. The following physical guidelines are recommended:
• Alternative Solutions – A holistic practitioner can offer dietary changes, supplements, herbal remedies, acupuncture or natural bio-identical hormones to treat fatigue and hot flashes, along with helping to improve mental clarity.
• Exercise – Exercise, such as yoga and tai chi, should be used as part of a daily routine to improve flexibility, inner connections and mindfulness.
Mitchell recommends the following spiritual guidelines:
• Meditation – Take time to meditate at least 5-10 minutes twice a day. This will relieve mind chatter and give you an opportunity to listen within. In addition, take mini-breaks during the day to breathe consciously for one minute.
• Acknowledgment – Acknowledge 5 things to be grateful for each day. This will attract more gratifying things into your life.
• Support – Schedule an energy healing session to support the transition and bring more alignment on the physical, emotional and energetic levels.
Mitchell recommends the following emotional guidelines:
• Support – Connect with healthy support from friends, family, support groups, a health practitioner or counselor. Be aware that support may come from places or people other than those that are usually counted on. As things change, people may have to adjust too.
• Changes – People should be educated about the changes that are experienced through reading, seminars or discussions with a healthcare provider.
• Evaluating – Evaluate everything that is heard and experienced through inner guidance and emotions and be sure it resonates; always be open to change.
ChicagoHealers.com Wednesday Experts
Dr. Marilyn Mitchell, MD: Women’s Health, Energy Worker
Dr. Robert Scott, DC, CCSP: Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Holistic Medicine
Tip of the Week: Sweet & Safe Alternatives to Harmful Artificial Sweeteners with Dr. Robert Scott, DC
According to a recent study in The Journal of Dermatitis, 5 out of 6 patients that ingested sugar-free beverages containing aspartame, particularly diet sodas, developed migraines following consumption. Aspartame is a widely used artificial sweetener in NutraSweet and Equal that has been linked to a multitude of ailments. Parents that consider aspartame a good sugar substitute for kids should think again. Children raised on chemical-heavy diets can develop both mental and physical disorders later in life. ChicagoHealers.com Practitioner Dr. Robert Scott, DC, explains why aspartame is harmful and provides healthy alternatives to the artificial sweeteners.
“After entering the body, the components of aspartame are rapidly released into the bloodstream,” says Scott. “Methanol and phenylalanine, bi-products both found in NutraSweet, can cause serious health problems in consumers.”
According to Scott, methanol can cause serious tissue damage, including blindness and in extreme cases, death. The body lacks the enzyme to detoxify methanol, making it extremely toxic in high doses. With an average can of diet soda containing 10 milligrams of methanol, heavy consumers of NutraSweet and Equal can easily surpass 100 milligrams daily, which is 13 times the daily amount recommended by the EPA. Parents should be especially careful to look at nutritional information when buying sugar-free products. Studies regarding the long term consumption of aspartame have shown a possible link between the sweetener and leukemia and lymphoma. Scott provides some helpful tips and artificial sweetener alternatives for aspartame:
• Check the Label! – Diet sodas are not the only source of aspartame. The sweetener is in thousands of products, ranging from yogurt to over-the-counter medicines.
• Stevia is Sweet – Stevia is a great alternative to artificial sweeteners. It has been used in South America for hundreds of years and is 30 to 40 times sweeter than sucrose.
• Try Sucanat – Sucanat, an all-natural sweetener derived from sugar cane juice, is a great alternative to artificial sweetners and only contains 15 calories per serving (1 teaspoon).
• Brown Rice Syrup – Another healthy alternative to artificial sweeteners is brown rice syrup which is created during sprouting of the grain and can be used for all sweet necessities.
About ChicagoHealers.com
Chicago Healers (www.chicagohealers.com) is the nation’s pioneer prescreened integrative health care network, offering a comprehensive understanding of each practitioner’s services, approach, and philosophy. Our holistic health experts teach and advocate natural and empowered health and life choices through their practices, the media, educational events, and our website. With close to 200 practitioners and over 300 treatment services, Chicago Healers has provided nearly 400 free educational events for Chicagoans and has been featured in 300+ TV news programs and print publications. For more information, visit www.chicagohealers.com.
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